The Place Drop-in Center hosted a meetingto inform consumers and their family members of how and when to accessDickinson Center Inc. Crisis Services, the Concern Hotline and the Section 302 Emergency Delegate system managed by Potter County Human Services.

Depression is not just having “the blues,” a few bad days, or the emotions we feel when grieving the loss of a loved one. It is a true medical condition that is treatable, like diabetes or hypertension.

Older adults are at increased risk. We know that about 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and 50% have two or more. Depression is more common in people who also have other illness (such as heart disease or cancer).

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Why do older adults not seek treatment?

Older adults are often misdiagnosed and undertreated. Healthcare providers may mistake an older adult’s symptoms of depression as just a natural reaction to illness or the life changes that may occur as we age, and therefore not see the depression as something to be treated.

Older adults themselves often share this belief, and do not seek help because they don’t understand they could feel better with appropriate treatment